Barcelona’s El Prat airport ended 2022 with a record 21% fewer passengers carried compared to 2019.
In total, it closed last year with 41.6 million passengers, although during the last months of 2022 it accelerated its recovery.
Although the air terminal is gradually leaving the pandemic behind, it has yet to fully recover.
The recovery became somewhat more evident from the last summer season of last year, reaching more than 41.6 million passengers.
During 2019 the figure was higher with 52.6 million users.
Figures indicate a 21% decrease in passenger traffic
Of the total traffic at El Prat airport (41.6 million), 29.4 million corresponds to passengers on international flights. These numbers are 24% below the figures for the year before the pandemic arrived.
As for domestic passengers, the response was better with 12.13 million users (only 13% less).
Air operations
More than 283,000 aircraft movements were carried out last year, or 18% less than the total recorded in 2019.
For example, international flights rebounded with 197,480 landings and takeoffs (although they were down 20% compared to 2019), while domestic flights yielded a total of 83,463 operations (down 12.5% versus 2019).
The advantage is that air traffic has been increasing at Barcelona Airport during the last half of 2022.
Although between June and July traffic was 20% lower than pre-pandemic figures, this percentage was gradually reduced to reach almost 10% less during the month of December with 3.3 million passengers.
In terms of overall air operations, the Barcelona air terminal recorded 22,350 movements during the last month of the year (down 11% compared to 2019).
El Prat compared to other national airports
However, if El Prat is compared to other airports in the country, it does not perform any better.
For example and according to Aena data, Barajas recorded a total of 50.6 million users (in fact the highest figure for the entire network), which represents an 18% decrease compared to 2019.
Other airports, such as Malaga, also obtained better results with 7.1% less. Valencia (-5%), Gran Canaria (-6.4%), Palma de Mallorca (-3.9%) and Tenerife Sur (-3.1%). Air terminals such as Reus, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Menorca have progressively recovered from the pandemic.
In summary, Aena network airports culminated 2022 with a total of 243.68 million passengers, or 11.5% less than in 2019.
During December 2022, the recovery almost matched the pre-pandemic figures with only 2% less, or 17.89 million passengers.
2023 begins with new expectations for air transport growth in the city.
